Duterte tells Filipinos not to believe “dilawans” on COVID-19 issues

September 15, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has urged the public not to believe the "dilawans" or the opposition who have been critical on his administration's response against coronavirus pandemic.

Duterte, in a taped televised message on Monday night, said the COVID-19 cases in the Philippines is low.

"The COVID virus is still around and the reason why there is less ratio and proportion between other countries, we're really low. You should know that," he said.

"You should not believe the dilawans, opposition, who have been non-stop in criticizing," Duterte added.

He said that all his officials did not join the government to lie.

"We do not have any obligation at all to lie," he added.

Earlier, Vice President Leni Robredo, the leader of the opposition, proposed some measures to the government on how to address some issues related to COVID-19.

While Malacanang has accepted the recommendations, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has said that the government has already been doing what Robredo had suggested.

As of September 14, the COVID-19 cases in the Philippines rose to 265,888, after 4,699 newly-confirmed cases were added to the list of patients. There were 207,504 recoveries while death toll hit 4,630.

In the same televised message, Duterte appealed to the Malaysian government to assist Filipinos who could have been affected by COVID-19 pandemic, including those in Sabah.

"That has been a very ticklish issue between our government. And we are trying our best to appeal to the humanitarian sense of the Malaysian government to please help our citizens in your country, as we would do for your citizens if they are in our country," he said.

The Philippines and Malaysia are engaged in a territorial dispute over Sabah where some Filipinos who have been living there have been deported to Mindanao amid the pandemic. Celerina Monte/DMS